Zara's Baby Gatsby 1st Birthday - Official Photos

Hello dear readers! Can't believe it has been more than a year already since we celebrated Z's first birthday...and I haven't shared official photos yet...eeeekkk!!! 

Anyway, if you're looking for some party inspiration or simply something to brighten up your Friday, here they are (well, only some of the edited shots). I truly hope that this set by Happy Folks Studio (our awesome photography party supplier) brings a smile to your it's-almost-the-weekend state of mind. Teeheee....cheers! :)

P.S. Do check out the other links below to know more about Z's Baby Gatsby 1st birthday party ;)

GORGEOUS GATSBY SUPPLIERS LIST:

• Venue: Alveo Celadon Park Function Rooms A & B
• Caterer / Stylist: Passion Cooks Catering
• Host / Magician: Chayno
• Mommy's dress: SURCO by Vien Resurreccion
• Baby's red party dress: a gift by Ninang Vien Resurreccion of SURCO
• Daddy's suit: BKS Couture (Boy Kastner Santos)
• Headpiece and Boutonnieres: ETC Handmade Goodness
• Hair and Make-up: Chinky Tanjangco and Wheng Diva
• Cake: Sugarplum Pastries
• Photographer: Happy Folks Studio
• Videographer: Shuttercount
• Lights and Sounds: Metromix
• Photobooth: Incredibooths
• OTD Coordinator: Madison Events
• Chocolate souvenir: Unit 16 Sweets
• Food carts: Ice Cream by Pinkerton; Fries, Ice Scramble and Cotton Candy by Sweet Services
• Paperie: Invitation by Nicci Wiedman of Paper Street Press; Menu card, dish card, tarps, chocolate layout, wish card by Caren Resurreccion; Table numbers, memorabilia table pictures by Mommy Meowmeow; and Printing by Printlane

RELATED POSTS

Planning for a first birthday party

Countdown to Z's party

A sweet feature by Party Doll Manila

Party MTV by Shuttercount

Video: Happy 50th Birthday Tito Tony

Wow, this is one of the fastest video edits I've done :) Well, for one I'd like to be able to surprise my uncle with this on the day of his birthday - which is today! 50 is partying all night with your family and friends and still being able to get up the next day to stroll a long time in the mall...naks! 

Of all the funny birthday messages, I think this one truly fits the bill:

"You’re not 50. You’re 18, with 32 years of experience!"

Happy birthday Tito Tony!!! We miss you already! God bless you always! :)

Here's the video on Youtube:

And on Vimeo:

Tito Tony's 50th Birthday from Andrew Lim on Vimeo.

Catering by: Verleo Catering
Cake: Sweet Home Bakeshop
Video by: Mommy Meowmeow

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy heart's day everyone! Today marks my first day of being a "Youtuber" and hopefully a more prolific vlogger in the days to come :) 

I'm sharing the love through a video of our wedding album...oh, and today is already our 12th Valentine's together. There's just so many stories to tell of everything that happened in that decade but well, one of my fave has just got to be our wedding day :)

P.S. Thank you so much Daddy A for my lovely bouquet today. Totally unexpected..hehehe..kisses! :p

 

Cast Iron Skillet: Cheesy Zucchini Omelette

Here's a quick, healthy, hearty and meat-free (not dairy-free, unfortunately) recipe for your first Friday of Lent. It is so easy to make and tastes really good too. Although, it is quite different from the usual flavors we Filipinos are accustomed to. 

A very simple dish that packs nutrients and flavors? Win! :)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup grated Zucchini
• 3-4 medium eggs
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 tbsp butter or 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small sliced tomato
• 1/4 cup cheese (we used left-over Quezo de Bola)
• salt and pepper to taste, other herbs of your choice like thyme or oregano

Directions:

• Heat your oven-safe skillet (we use Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron Skillet, 9-inch). Saute your onion and zucchini with the butter or olive oil, until it caramelizes a bit
• In a separate bowl, whisk together your eggs, add salt and pepper to taste. You can also add a dash of herb/s (your choice). Add this to your zucchini and onion, in the skillet. Cook over medium heat
• When eggs are completely set, add the sliced tomatoes on top and sprinkle with cheese
• Broil in a pre-heated oven for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted or lightly browned.
• Cut and serve. Enjoy!

Video: Grace's 30th in Paris-ig

What happens when party maven friends plan a "dirty thirty" with Paris in mind? See for yourself in the video! 

Major congratulations to the birthday celebrant -Grace- and to the "party peeps extraordinaire" : Ayee, Shelly, Aileen, Shiela, Ruth, and more!

Wish you were here, Ina, Wannie and Kathy! :)

Now things to watch out for in the video:

• All the nice Paris / Eiffel deets
• Impromptu game: who gets to pop the poppers???
• Snake and Ladders for adults
• other "dirty thirty" things we didn't get to see because we came late / went home early :p

  Joyeux Anniversaire, Grace! from Andrew Lim on Vimeo.

Slow cooker meal: Tasty's Baby Back Ribs!

One of the things I was most thankful for last Christmas is this: receiving a "kabuhayan showcase" worth of gifts from my dearest ones to complete my little kitchen. Yahooo!!! :) Seriously now, while I was thinking of slowly building up my cooking appliances and other paraphernalia, there I was, a completely surprised recipient not only of a cast iron skillet (supposedly the hubby's gift but I was the one who got it from the store hahaha) but also of fine silverware (thanks Tita Carmen & Tito Ven), a turbo broiler (thanks Tito Tony) and this slow-cooker (thanks Mommy & Daddy!!!) Oh, if I could only give you all a tight hug!!!! :D

For our first try, we followed Buzzfeed Tasty's recipe to the letter; for our next batch, we used the spices as dry rub

While my first attempt at using the slow-cooker was an utter, utter failure (grabe, sobra, hindi makatarungan..huhuhu!!!!), I've come to love this little kitchen helper. That is, after careful research. --> I'll reserve a post for this so you'll learn from my mistakes too :) But you're here for the ribs, aren't you? So let's get cooking!! Uhmmm...slowly! ;)

SLOW COOKER RIBS (adapted from Buzzfeed Tasty)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of bbq sauce (we love, love, love Sweet Baby Ray's)
• 1/4 cup of brown sugar
• 4 Tbsp. of cider vinegar
• 3 tsp of oregano
• 1 tsp of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 Tbsp. of cayenne pepper
• 1 Tbsp. of chili powder
• 3 lbs of baby back pork ribs (got ours from SM at approximately PHP 450-500 for this size)
• Salt & pepper

Directions (adapted from Buzzfeed Tasty):

Buzzfeed Tasty's version: Combine bbq sauce, brown sugar, cider vinegar, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, and chili powder in a small bowl.

Salt and pepper the ribs. Place ribs in slow cooker, and cover in sauce. Cook low and slow for eight hours or high for four hours.

Mommy Meowmeow's version:

• Defrost and clean the ribs. Pat dry with clean towel. Salt and pepper the ribs.
• Combine oregano, cayenne pepper, chili pepper and use as dry rub. I promise, there is a difference in flavor! [Be careful not to touch your face or your child at this point. Make sure to wash your hands well.]
• Combine barbecue sauce, brown sugar, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce. 
• Place ribs in slow cooker and cover in sauce

• Cook high for 4 hours OR Cook high for 1 hour (to get the temp high enough and keep the meat safe from the temperature danger zone) and switch to low and cook for 6 hours. [If your slow cooker does not have a timer, you can buy one from your trusted hardware shop like the one below]

• Optional: Baste with extra sauce and broil in a pre-heated oven

• Plate and serve

Buzzfeed Tasty's version: After the ribs are done, spoon the bbq sauce in the slow cooker over the ribs before removing. Cut the ribs, serve with bbq sauce.

The result? It's really a fall-off-the-bone ribs dish. And I really love the medley of spices used in this recipe. My mom even said that it was close to Applebee's. The house was unanimous...Rice pa please!!!! :) 

Note: This dish has a little bit of heat due to the spices added so tone it down a little if you'll be serving to kids too. Enjoy and let me know how your slow cooker ribs goes! :)

Hmmm..I think the Valentine's weekend warrants some rubs for the lovin' hehehe <3

A trip to Divi-landia

Contrary to how I perceived it when I was a lot younger, it seems that going out with friends as an adult can be much harder to plan and actually do. At 30-something we all have lots on our plates - a husband or a significant other, a kid or two, managing the home, trying to get something done..you get the drift :)

So when we finally did have the chance to get together, we were a truly ecstatic! Oh wheee! And, it's not a casual Friday night dinner and drinks...we all agreed to have a food trip in Manila's Chinatown on a Tuesday morning. That's some of the things we "oddballs" get to do because of our scheds Hehehe..

Ninang K navigating through Chinatown with a little help from Waze :)

Original plan: to try out Royale Sharksfin Seafood. After navigating through traffic and not finding a decent parking space (it is after all the busy week before Chinese New Year!), we had a change of plans. Might as well park and eat at Lucky Chinatown Mall and then see where the day will take us. 

And so we started scouring for nice restos yet we ended up eating from a hotpot shabu-shabu kiosk Hehehe...well, it wasn't at all bad for PHP 130 - 150.00 per bowl. Ninang K also found a stall that sells fresh lumpia, we loved it! Cravings satisfied! :)

PHP 150 Shabu-shabu hotpot meal at the kiosks to the side of Lucky Chinatown Mall

A mango graham drink for Ninang W

Since we were literally just a stone's throw away from Divisoria, well we just had to go. With only a few hours to spare, I'm really amazed the three of us were able to have great finds (Wannie, especially!) thanks to Kathy for being our guide.

From 999 mall Wannie got sheets, and a cute pants for me. 168 got me crazy with the wooden toys at a fraction of the price from malls. Amazing discounts already for kids' toys, in fact..nahihiya na ako tumawad pa hehehe. I think this is where I got so excited to build up my "homeschool" loot. Take a look at some of these 'manipulatives' that my child already loves.

The 3 toys all cost me less than PHP 450.00. Can you imagine?? I'm glad I did not bring more money..oh the temptation!! Nakakabaliw di ba? Hahahaha :) [Not in picture: a PHP 50.00 bell shaker Added already :)]

And then there was this one "secret store" where Kathy brought us and I think Wannie got too excited with the goods!! Even I had to restrain myself. I think it was a wholesaler that had toys, school supplies, fashion accessories, etc..the works! I was able to get a 6-pack set of pearls (fake / fancy of course) for PHP 28.00 Gaaaaaahhh!!!! Now, imagine what Wannie was able to score..hahaha I shall not tell! :p

We were also amazed by the unique party supplies and Valentine's offers, but, we had to head back. While we would have loved S&R pizza for merienda, time would not permit. We just contented ourselves with buying tikoy from Eng Bee Tin and very tasty gelato from Caramia. I tried the Mango Berry and ang saraaaaappp!!!

That's it pancit, Happy Chinese New Year everyone! :)